Structure of the Structure of the Federal Court SystemFederal Court System

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Types of CourtsTypes of Courts

Trial CourtsTrial Courts All cases start at the trial All cases start at the trial

court level;court level; Judges and juries decide Judges and juries decide

matters of matters of fact fact and and law;law; Witnesses testify;Witnesses testify; Evidence presented;Evidence presented; The initial determination The initial determination

of guilt/liability is made.of guilt/liability is made.

Appellate CourtsAppellate Courts Cases come here Cases come here after after

after trial court;after trial court; Judges decide issues of Judges decide issues of

law only;law only; No juries or witnesses No juries or witnesses

testify and no evidence testify and no evidence is presented;is presented;

Attorneys submit briefs Attorneys submit briefs and present oral and present oral arguments to a panel of arguments to a panel of judges.judges.

The judge’s decision The judge’s decision becomes becomes precedentprecedent

Federal Court JurisdictionFederal Court Jurisdiction• Federal QuestionFederal Question - All cases involving the - All cases involving the

Constitution, federal laws or treaties;Constitution, federal laws or treaties;• Includes BankruptciesIncludes Bankruptcies

• DiversityDiversity - Cases between citizens of different states - Cases between citizens of different states or between U.S. citizens and citizens of other or between U.S. citizens and citizens of other countries;countries;

• Ambassadors or Public Ministers*Ambassadors or Public Ministers*• Admiralty or MaritimeAdmiralty or Maritime• U.S. is a party*U.S. is a party*• State v. StateState v. State

• Concurrent Jurisdiction - Concurrent Jurisdiction - When both federal and When both federal and state courts have jurisdiction.state courts have jurisdiction.

Federal District CourtFederal District Court

The The trial courtstrial courts in the federal system; in the federal system; District courts hear both civil and criminal District courts hear both civil and criminal

cases.cases. The U.S. is divided into 94 districts, each The U.S. is divided into 94 districts, each

district has at least one district court;district has at least one district court; California is divided into four districtsCalifornia is divided into four districts

San Diego is in the Southern District of CaliforniaSan Diego is in the Southern District of California Federal District Court for the Southern District of CaliforniFederal District Court for the Southern District of Californi

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U.S. Circuit Courts of AppealU.S. Circuit Courts of Appeal The intermediate appellate court in the federal The intermediate appellate court in the federal

court system;court system; Created to ease the burden on the Supreme Court;Created to ease the burden on the Supreme Court; By law, you are entitled to appeal your case to the By law, you are entitled to appeal your case to the

Circuit court;Circuit court; The Court may either:The Court may either:

Uphold the decision of the trial courtUphold the decision of the trial court Overturn the decision of the trial courtOverturn the decision of the trial court Order the trial court to re-try the caseOrder the trial court to re-try the case

The Court’s decision is The Court’s decision is binding precedent: binding precedent: Other lower courts must follow their interpretation of the Other lower courts must follow their interpretation of the

law - they can only be overruled by the Supreme Courtlaw - they can only be overruled by the Supreme Court

U.S. Circuit Court of AppealsU.S. Circuit Court of Appeals

The U.S. is divided into 12 districts or The U.S. is divided into 12 districts or circuits based on region:circuits based on region: Each Circuit has one Court of Appeals;Each Circuit has one Court of Appeals; California is in the California is in the 9th Circuit9th Circuit

U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia (D.C. Circuit)Columbia (D.C. Circuit)

Court of Appeal for the Federal Circuit Court of Appeal for the Federal Circuit Hears cases from the Federal Court of Claims, Hears cases from the Federal Court of Claims,

Court of International Trade, U.S. Patent CourtCourt of International Trade, U.S. Patent Court

U.S. Supreme CourtU.S. Supreme Court Comprised of nine judges (Justices), appointed Comprised of nine judges (Justices), appointed

by the President;by the President; Original JurisdictionOriginal Jurisdiction;;

U.S. is a party;U.S. is a party; Cases involving ambassadors/public ministersCases involving ambassadors/public ministers

Appellate Jurisdiction - Appellate Jurisdiction - Highest appellate court Highest appellate court in the country:in the country: Court only hears approx. 3% of all cases appealed to Court only hears approx. 3% of all cases appealed to

it from lower federal courts or state courts;it from lower federal courts or state courts; Final authority on the interpretation of Final authority on the interpretation of federal lawfederal law;;

State CourtsState Courts

Superior CourtsSuperior Courts - State trial courts; - State trial courts; General jurisdiction - hears all type of cases;General jurisdiction - hears all type of cases;

Superior Court for the County of San DiegoSuperior Court for the County of San Diego

Courts of AppealCourts of Appeal - Intermediate appellate - Intermediate appellate courts, not all states have this level;courts, not all states have this level; California is divided into six appellate districts;California is divided into six appellate districts;

Court of Appeal for the State of California, Fourth Appellate Court of Appeal for the State of California, Fourth Appellate District, Division OneDistrict, Division One

State Supreme CourtsState Supreme Courts - Final authority on the - Final authority on the interpretation of interpretation of state law;state law; California State Supreme CourtCalifornia State Supreme Court